Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 22 – 28, 2017

School testing season begins in many states this week, and grassroots protests are exploding across the nation. To help parents, students, educators and allies build more powerful testing resistance and assessment reform campaigns FairTest has released new and updated advocacy tools

https://fairtest.orgdata.com.org/new-and-updated-fact-sheets

NationalDeVos Says States Should Decide How Much Testing is “Actually Necessary”
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2017/03/betsy_devos_states_should_decide_how_much_testing.html

CaliforniaNew School Assessment Tool Is an Improvement
http://napavalleyregister.com/calistogan/news/opinion/editorial/assessing-our-schools/article_dd6a9210-c764-5fb1-8263-9fbfe6289a26.html

ColoradoStandardized Tests Cause Unnecessary Stress
http://www.timescall.com/opinion/letterstotheeditor/ci_30880560/nikki-schlegel-standardized-tests-create-unnecessary-stress

ConnecticutSay “No” to the Unfair Testing Scam
http://jonathanpelto.com/2017/03/22/say-no-unfair-common-core-sbac-testing-scam/

District of ColumbiaRate What Is Important, Not Just What Is Easy to Measure
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/wp/2017/03/21/school-ratings-should-rate-whats-important-not-just-whats-easy-to-calculate/

FloridaWant Fewer Tests? Change the Accountability System
https://unitedforflchildren.com/2017/03/21/want-less-tests-change-the-accountability-system/

Florida Teacher to Legislature: 37 School Days/Year Lost to Test Prep
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-teacher-37-days-test-prep-20170323-story.html

Florida Senators Ponder Direction of Testing
http://www.news4jax.com/education/senators-ponder-direction-on-school-testing

IllinoisPro-Testing Myths Put Undo Pressure on Opt-Out Parents and Kids
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/parcc-testing-myths-put-unfair-pressure-on-parents-and-kids/

Illinois Legislative Panel Votes Against Parents on Test Opt-Out Bill
http://stateschoolnews.com/isns/032417-Panel-votes-against-parents-on-test-opt-out.htm

Illinois PARCC Test a Double-Whammy for Special Education Students
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/parcc-test-a-double-whammy-for-cps-special-education-students/

IndianaTeacher Pay Should Not Be Determined by Test Scores
http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2017/03/25/pulliam-teacher-merit-pay-shouldnt-determined-test-scores/99457262/

LouisianaState’s Test-Driven ESSA Implementation Plan Should Be Rejected
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/2017/03/john-whites-plan-for-implementation-of.html

MassachusettsRebooted Exam Rekindles Debate About Testing
http://www.wbur.org/edify/2017/03/22/mcas-reboot

Massachusetts Updated Opt-Out Fact Sheet
http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/the-facts-on-opting-out-of-mcas-or-parcc/

Massachusetts Legislators Reconsider Standardized Testing Policies
http://homenewshere.com/middlesex_east/article_fad7a910-0f12-11e7-9f58-638bb25cb384.html

MinnesotaSchools Spend Millions on Standardized Tests with “Limited” Usefulness
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/education/4239679-report-schools-spend-millions-state-tests-limited-usefulness

MissouriLogic Behind Test-Based Scholarship Is Wrong
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/logic-behind-bright-flight-scholarships-is-flawed/article_e3d646a4-e48c-57b3-a06d-30b4e92c45d3.html

New HampshireParents Should Know Their Testing Rights
http://nhpoliticalbuzz.org/school-testing-time-in-nh-do-you-know-your-rights-as-a-parent/

New JerseyGovernor Candidates Oppose High-Stakes Exams
http://observer.com/2017/03/jim-johnson-knocks-standardized-testing-in-nj/

New Jersey Learning Season Screeches to Halt as Testing Season Begins
http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/opinion/readers/2017/03/21/commentary-learning-screeches-halt-parcc-season-starts/99478878/

New Jersey PARCC Test Is Back, Impacts Unclear
http://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/parcc_testing_is_back_monday_and_the_stakes_are_higher_in_nj.html

New YorkOpt-Out Movement Accelerates as State Pushes Tests
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/03/20/opt-out-continues-state-pushes-tests-view/99391668/

New York Teachers, Parents Say “Know Your Rights” About Testing, Opting Out
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/central-ny/education/2017/03/21/teachers-parents-know-your-rights-standardized-testing-rochester-education.html

New York Dropping Teacher “Literacy” Test Was Right Move
https://www.the74million.org/article/arons-3-reasons-why-new-york-was-right-to-drop-its-teacher-literacy-test

North CarolinaHouse Bill Would Eliminate More Standardized Exams
http://www.wcti12.com/news/state/more-standardized-final-exams-would-go-away-in-house-bill_/407256041

OhioSchools Prepare for New Grad Testing Options
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170321/columbus-schools-preparing-for-new-graduation-testing-options

Ohio More Districts Express Concern About Over-Testing
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/anderson-township/2017/03/22/column-district-concerned-testing/99135002/

Ohio Some Educators Challenge Fairness of Computerized Testing
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170323/some-ohio-educators-question-fairness-of-computer-required-testing

PennsylvaniaHigh-Stakes Testing in Limbo
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/keystone-exams-a-work-in-progress-1.2172852

TexasEducation Leaders Weigh In on Changes to A to F School Grading System
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/local-education/texas-educators-weigh-proposed-changes-school-grades/bd2hGFn2iWmQoHB0YAb1DL/

Texas Schools Brace for Testing Season Hoping to Avoid Another Mess
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/03/24/texas-braces-another-staar-testing-season-hoping-avoid-last-years-mess

Worth ReadingBlack Students Thrive in Performance Assessment Consortium Schools That Promote Discussion, Slash Testing
http://atlantablackstar.com/2017/03/22/schools-nyc-consortium-promote-discussions-slash-testing-black-students-thriving/

Worth Reading The Joy of Opting Out of Standardized Testing
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/the-joy-of-opting-out-of-standardized-testing/

Worth Viewing “Let’s Opt Out Again, Like We Did Last Year”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=87&v

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